"The feller she loves is Whistlin'
Dan Barry. You wouldn't think no woman would look without shiverin'
at that hell-raiser. But she's goin' on a hunger strike on account of
him. Since yesterday she wouldn't eat none. She says she'll starve
herself to death unless we turn her loose. The hell of it is that she
will. I know it an' so does the rest of the boys."
"Starve herself to death?" said Buck exuberantly. "Wait till I get
hold of her!"
"_You?_"
"Me!"
Purvis viewed him with compassion.
"Me bein' your friend, Buck," he said, "take my tip an' don't try no
fool stunts around that girl. Which she once belongs to Whistlin' Dan
Barry an' therefore she's got the taboo mark on her for any other man.
Everything he's ever owned is different, damned different!"
His voice lowered to a tone which was almost awe.
"Speakin' for myself, I don't hanker after his hoss like Bill Kilduff;
or his girl, like Lee Haines; or his life, like the chief. All I want
is a shot at that wolf-dog, that Black Bart!"
"You look sort of het up, Hal."
"He come near puttin' his teeth into my leg down at Morgan's place the
day Barry cleaned up the chief."
"Why, any dog is apt to take a snap at a feller.
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